Farm & ranch show officials, Civic Center announce deal

As the Amarillo Farm & Ranch Show started Tuesday, its producer, IDEAg Group, and Amarillo Civic Center officials announced they’ve signed a contract to keep the show in town for five more years.

“That’s a lot of people in town,” said Eric Miller, spokesman for the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council.

“Vendors spend nights in hotels and eat in restaurants, and the people attending the show come for the day from places like Guymon and buy gasoline and maybe shop or eat. They’re leaving a lot of sales taxes here.”

This year’s show is the 28th in Amarillo, and its producer estimates more than 500 exhibitors are participating, according to a news release.

Typically, more than 30,000 people from several states have attended, officials said.

“This is one of our biggest groups,” Miller said.

Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday.